3 more days to go until the Hungarian capital officially closes its summer festival season with a day and a night of fun, music and dancing, called Budapest Parade.
Budapest Parade is only 5 years old and it's the little sister of two great European events: Loveparade (Berlin) and Technoparade (Paris). From the first edition in 2000, the number of its participants has gradually incerased, last year in exceeded half a million - and this year organizers are expecting even more people to show up and enjoy the sight of more than 50 carnival floats and the sound of over 200 DJs.
What to expect? If you are anywhere near down-town Budapest on the 28th of August you'll surely hear the loud music and there's no way you can miss the huge crowds either. You are very likely to recognize familiar beats no matter what kind of music you like, you'll probably notice a couple of your favourite international MCs and VJs, and interesting sights are certainly going to grab your attention while the colorful cars go by.
Beside being a noisy march, Budapest Parade is also a remarkable cultural event: dozens of stages-on-wheels will be occupied not only by singers and musicians from different styles, but also by circus performers, actors and dancers; workshops and theaters will be present with various productions and if your taste is inclined towards something slightly more serious, you might be pleasantly surprised to encounter classical music also.
Where to go? It all starts at 2 PM on the Pest side: the trucks depart from Deák and Erzsébet Squares, all the way down Andrássy Street to Heros' Square. Admire the spectacular fireworks, follow the rhythm of the streets - and if you're still not tired by midnight, several after-parties and post-parade dances sponsored by local clubs and radio stations will be thrown all over town to keep you up until dawn.

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